Omemee Bat Control Case Study

Omemee Ontario home with a bat problem and hidden roofline gaps. — This Omemee, Ontario home had bats showing up inside, but the real problem was hidden on the exterior: failing soffits, chimney gaps, loose siding, vents, and roofline openings that bats and mice could use.

Location: Omemee, Ontario
Problem: Bats showing up inside the house
Bat activity: Small numbers, no evidence of a major maternity colony
Other activity: Heavy mouse evidence around several openings
Main issue: Poor exterior construction and failing roofline details
Work completed: Soffit repair, J-channel correction, chimney sealing, custom flashings, vent screening, caulking, siding repair, and metal bat excluder installation
Result: House bat-proofed, bats exited, and no more bats showing up inside

This Omemee Home Had Bats Showing Up Inside — But the Real Problem Was Outside

The owners of this Omemee, Ontario home had only lived there a couple of years when bats began showing up inside. There was no evidence of a large maternity colony, but the house had numerous exterior openings: collapsing soffits, poorly installed J-channel, loose siding, open vents, chimney gaps, fascia gaps, shingle overlaps, and heavy mouse activity around the same access points. This case shows why proper bat control is not about finding one hole — it is about bat-proofing the entire exterior.

Get A Free Estimate

Bats Were Getting Inside the Living Space

There were no signs of a maternity colony. We did not find heavy bat droppings or evidence of hundreds of bats. This looked like a small number of bats using the house, but the exterior had so many weak points and the home needed a full bat-proofing approach.

The problem was not one neat little hole. The problem was the whole roofline.

The House Had Multiple Openings, Not Just One Bat Entry Point

This home had several exterior problems that could allow bats, mice, or both to move behind the roofline. The aluminum soffits were collapsing in places. Some soffit sections had to be pulled down and reinstalled properly. The J-channels were not installed correctly, leaving gaps where animals could move behind the soffit system.

There were also gaps between fascia, aluminum trim, shingle overlaps, and roofline transitions. Around the chimney, the situation was much worse. The brick chimney was pulling away from the house, leaving large open seams where bats and mice could enter.

This is exactly why bat control fails when someone only looks for one obvious hole.

What We Found on the Omemee Home

Here were the main entry points

Main bat and mouse entry point in a large gap between brick wall sections on an Omemee Ontario home. — This large gap between brick wall sections was the main active entry point where bats were going in and out of the Omemee home, with mice also using the same opening.

Large corner gap beside soffit and brick used by bats and mice. — This close up of the gap showed the kind of poor exterior detail that allowed bats and mice to access the house.

Loose fascia board and upturned J-channel creating a bat entry point into the soffit on an Omemee Ontario home. — Loose fascia boards and poorly fitted J-channel left open gaps into the soffit system. These openings had to be corrected and secured to keep bats from entering the roofline.

Upturned J-channel and displaced soffit panel creating a gap that bats can use to enter a house. — An upturned J-channel and displaced soffit panel created an opening along the roofline that bats could use to enter the structure.

Gap between siding and soffit end cap where bats could enter an Omemee Ontario home.This gap between the siding, soffit end cap, fascia, and brick created a hidden opening into the roofline. Gaps like this are easy to miss but large enough for bats and mice to use. — This gap between the siding, soffit end cap, fascia, and brick created a hidden opening into the roofline. Gaps like this are easy to miss but large enough for bats and mice to use.

Large gap at gable peak where shingles overlap the faceboard, creating a bat entry point on an Omemee Ontario home. — This large gap at the gable peak, where the shingles overlap the faceboard, was big enough to fit a finger inside and could easily allow bats into the roofline.

Homeowner-installed plastic bat excluder and copper mesh placed over the wrong chimney opening. — A homeowner-installed plastic tube excluder and copper mesh placed over a suspected bat entry point that bats were not actually using. The real bat access points were elsewhere on the house.

Incorrect homeowner-installed plastic bat excluder with copper mesh and spray foam over a suspected chimney bat entry point. — Front view, note the unscreened gap liner chimney cap beside.

Missing siding on a gable end exposing an open gap where bats, birds, squirrels, or other animals can enter behind the siding and soffit. — This missing siding left a large exposed gap at the gable end of the home. Open areas like this can give bats and other animals easy access behind the siding, soffit, and roofline.

Missing mortar between chimney bricks creating a narrow opening that bats can use as an entry point. — A missing mortar joint between chimney bricks created a narrow opening that bats could use to enter the chimney or surrounding structure.

Large gap between the brick chimney and exterior brick wall on an Omemee home that could allow bats, mice, and other animals inside. — This large separation between the chimney and brick wall created a serious exterior gap that could allow bats, mice, and other critters to enter the house.

Massive gap between the roof decking and fascia board on a gable end of an Omemee home, creating a major bat entry point. — This massive gap under the shingle edge, between the roof decking and fascia board on the gable end, created an obvious bat entry point into the house.

Disintegrating chimney tile and deteriorated chimney crown left open for bats on an Omemee Ontario home. — This deteriorating chimney tile and damaged crown left the chimney wide open. Open chimney tops like this can allow bats, mice, birds, and other animals to enter the structure.

The Worst Gaps Were Around the Chimneys

There were three chimneys on the house. All three were dormant, except for one flue connected to a gas stove that was no longer being used.

The chimneys had some of the largest and most obvious bat and rodent entry points on the entire structure. One brick chimney was actually pulling away from the brick wall of the house, leaving a long open gap large enough for both mice and bats to use. The staining, oil marks, dirt buildup, and wear around the opening showed that animals had been moving through that area repeatedly.

A second chimney had originally served the furnace, but the furnace had since been upgraded to a high-efficiency unit, leaving the chimney unused. The top of that chimney was deteriorating and vulnerable to animal entry.

Before photo inside a dormant chimney flue tile with broken concrete, debris, and open gaps that could allow bats to enter before being sealed and bat-proofed.

Before photo showing new chimney flashing that has not been properly caulked where it meets the brick, with old caulking still visible from the previous flashing.

Before photo of a chimney with a gas liner cap and flashing that is not bat-proof, leaving openings where bats can enter the chimney area.

Open clay tile chimney flue before being sealed with sheet metal to prevent bats from entering.

The third chimney was also dormant. It had gaps around the flashing, and the old clay flue tile had previously been filled with concrete, but that concrete had broken down and deteriorated over time. Together, these chimney defects created multiple obvious openings that needed to be properly repaired and bat-proofed.

There were not piles of bat droppings suggesting a major colony. Instead, this looked like small numbers of bats using the same broken, open roofline areas that mice were also using.

Because mice were clearly active, we used a metal bat excluder instead of a cheap plastic excluder. Plastic excluders can be chewed, damaged, or destroyed by rodents. A metal excluder is the better choice when mice activity is obvious.

The Soffits Had to Be Taken Apart and Reinstalled Properly

A lot of the bat-proofing work on this house involved fixing work that had not been installed properly in the first place. Some soffit sections were loose, collapsing, or not locked into the J-channel correctly. In several areas, we had to pull the soffits down, reinstall the J-channels correctly, and then put the soffit back properly.

This matters because soffit systems are not just decorative. If the J-channel, fascia, soffit panels, and roofline trim are not tight, bats and mice can use those gaps to move behind the exterior.

How We Bat-Proofed the Omemee Home

Soffits Repaired and Reinstalled

Loose and collapsing soffit sections were removed, corrected, and reinstalled so they fit properly into the J-channel.

J-channel being straightened and secured before aluminum soffit panels are reinstalled to close hidden bat entry gaps. — This photo shows the J-channel being straightened and fastened before the soffit panels are reinstalled. Bent or loose J-channel can leave hidden openings where bats may enter behind the soffit.

Straightened J-channel under the roofline ready for soffit panels to be reinstalled after hidden bat entry gaps were corrected. — This photo shows the J-channel straightened and ready for the soffit panels to be reinstalled. Correcting this detail helps prevent gaps from remaining behind the finished soffit line.

Technician repairing displaced soffit panels to close roofline gaps and keep bats out.

Technician replacing fascia flashing one the home after repairing the soffits to help keep bats out. — After the soffits were repaired, the fascia flashing was replaced to close and protect the roofline where bats had been able to access the structure.

Fascia, Aluminum, and Shingle Gaps Sealed

Gaps between fascia, aluminum trim, shingles, and roofline overlaps were sealed to prevent bats and mice from entering.

Large Chimney Gaps, Chimney Tops & Flashings Sealed

After photo of chimney flashing screwed down and caulked with Pure Roof silicone to seal gaps and keep bats out. — After photo showing chimney flashing secured with screws and sealed with Pure Roof silicone to close bat entry gaps around the chimney.

After photo of chimney flashings that have been screwed down and caulked to seal roofline gaps and keep bats out. — After photo showing chimney flashings secured with screws and sealed with caulking to close roofline gaps and prevent bat entry.

After photo of a chimney liner cap screened against bats, with flashing caulked neatly around the outside edges and around the collar. — This after photo shows a chimney liner cap that has been screened to keep bats out, with the flashing properly caulked around the outer edges and around the collar for a clean, secure seal.

Gap in chimney mortar joints being caulked shut to prevent bats and mice from entering. — A gap in the chimney mortar joints being sealed with exterior-grade caulking to close a bat and mouse entry point.

After photo of an unused chimney flue sealed with sheet metal and caulked around the edges to prevent bats from entering. — An unused chimney flue sealed shut with sheet metal and caulked around the edges to prevent bats, mice, birds, and other animals from entering.

After photo of two dormant chimney flues sealed with metal caps and caulking to close cracks and gaps that could allow bats to enter. — These two dormant chimney flues have been sealed off and the surrounding cracks have been caulked to prevent bats from entering through the chimney top or crown area.f

The large seam where the chimney was separating from the house was primed and sealed with silicone to close the long opening.

Large Gap Where Chimney Appeared To Be Coming Away From The House Was Sealed

Foam backers were installed prior to the large bead of caulking to ensure it would not fall out or into the gap..

Two after photos showing a gap where a chimney was pulling away from the wall, sealed with foam backer rod and Pure Roof silicone to keep bats and mice out. — After photos of a large gap where the chimney had separated from the wall, sealed with foam backer rod and Pure Roof silicone to stop bats and mice from entering.

The Roof Vents Were Bat-Proofed

Before photo of an unprotected roof vent on an asphalt shingle roof that could allow bats to enter the attic if not properly screened. — This before photo shows an unprotected roof vent on a shingle roof. Roof vents can provide bats with access to the attic when the vent openings are not protected with proper bat-proof screening.

Black roof vent protected with a properly installed bat-proof screen to prevent bats from entering through the roof vent opening. — This roof vent has been protected with a properly fitted bat-proof screen. Roof vents can be easy entry points for bats if the openings are not screened with the right material.

A Large Gap Behind The Electric Meter Was Found & Sealed

These hidden gaps would not have been obvious to anyone. Fortunately years ago we had learned (the hard way) that there are often substantial holes behind electric meters that bats can and will use.

Hidden gap behind an electrical meter on a brick wall, showing a long open space where bats or mice can enter behind the meter base. — This photo shows a hidden gap running behind the electrical meter. Openings like this are easy to miss, but bats and mice can use them to get behind the meter box and into wall or soffit spaces.

Plastic Tubing length shows how deep Hidden Gap Behind Electrical Meter was — The plastic tubing shows how deep the hidden gap runs behind the electrical meter. Small gaps around utility equipment can be large enough for bats and mice to enter.

Expanding foam gun sealing a hidden gap behind an electrical meter on a brick wall before the area is caulked shut to prevent bats and mice. — This photo shows the hidden gap behind the electrical meter being sealed with foam before final caulking. Proper bat-proofing closes the deeper void first, then seals the exterior joint.

Loose Siding Re-Secured

Loose siding at the peak end of the house was screwed back into place to close another vulnerable area.

missing siding at peak of house — Missing siding at peak of house where bats can get in. Although I forgot to get an after pic, we located the missing siding pieces and reinstalled them properly and bat-proofed the area.

Metal Bat Excluder Installed at the Chimney

A metal excluder was installed at the active chimney area so any remaining bats could leave safely without getting back in.

Caulked soffit and chimney gaps with a bat excluder installed over the main entry point to allow bats out while preventing re-entry. — This photo shows soffit lines and chimney-side gaps sealed with exterior caulking, with a bat excluder installed over the main active entry point. The surrounding prevention work is completed first so bats cannot move to nearby openings.

Bat excluder set at a soffit and brick corner to allow bats to exit while preventing re-entry. — A bat excluder set in a tight soffit and brick corner, allowing bats to leave the structure before the final opening is permanently sealed.

The Correct Order Matters

On this Omemee home, the goal was not to slap an excluder on the most obvious hole and leave the rest of the house open. That is how bat jobs fail.

The correct process is to bat-proof the house first by sealing secondary and potential entry points. Once the surrounding gaps are closed, the final active exit points can be fitted with one-way excluders. That way, bats can leave safely, but they cannot simply move sideways into the next open gap.

The Result: Bats Out, House Bat-Proofed

Once the exterior was repaired and bat-proofed, the remaining bats were able to leave through the metal excluder. The vents were screened, the soffit problems were corrected, the chimney gaps were sealed, loose siding was re-secured, and the hidden roofline openings were closed.

The homeowners no longer had bats showing up inside the house.

This was not a large colony situation. It was a small-number bat problem made worse by a house with many poor exterior details and enough openings for bats and mice to keep using the structure.

Why Were Bats Showing Up Inside This Omemee House?

Bats were likely getting into the structure through exterior gaps around the chimney, soffits, fascia, vents, and roofline. Once inside the wall or roof system, small numbers of bats can sometimes find their way into living spaces through interior openings, unfinished areas, wall gaps, furnace rooms, or ceiling and trim gaps.

Diagram of a single-story brick house with a dormer and chimney, showing common bat entry points around soffits, rooflines, fascia, dormer edges, and where the soffit meets the chimney. — This diagram shows the most common places bats enter a house, including gaps at the gable end, dormer rooflines, fascia and shingle edges, and where the soffit meets the chimney.

Cutaway diagram of a brick house showing bats moving from the attic through framing gaps beside chimneys, pipes, and wires, down wall cavities to the basement and toward the living space. — This cutaway image shows how bats travel from attic entry points down through wall cavities and framing gaps beside chimneys, pipes, wires, and ductwork, eventually reaching the basement and living areas.

Cutaway house diagram showing bats coming from the basement, traveling under unfinished basement stairs and under a door, then flying up into the main living space. — This image shows the final stage of indoor bat movement, with bats coming up from the basement, traveling under the basement door, and ending up loose in the living space of the house.

Was This a Large Bat Colony?

No. There were no signs of a major maternity colony. We did not find heavy bat droppings or large colony evidence. This appeared to be a small number of bats using a house with many exterior openings.

Why Use a Metal Bat Excluder Instead of Plastic?

There was obvious mouse activity around the same entry areas. When mice are active, plastic excluders are a poor choice because rodents can chew or damage them. A metal excluder is more durable and better suited to a house with both bat and mouse evidence.

Custom shorty bat excluder held before installation on a Thornhill Ontario home with a big brown bat problem. — One of our custom shorty bat excluders before installation. This model is used for specific tight bat entry points where a full-size excluder is not the best fit.

Plastic bat excluder chewed through by mice, allowing bats to get back into the house — This plastic bat excluder was chewed through and destroyed by mice, allowing bats to get back into the structure. Cheap plastic excluders are not a reliable long-term bat control solution.

Can Mice and Bats Use the Same Openings?

Yes. Mice and bats can use some of the same exterior gaps, especially around chimneys, soffits, fascia, siding, and roofline openings. Staining, oil marks, dirt, and wear can indicate repeated animal movement even when there are not many droppings.

Close-up of a big brown bat entry point on a Thornhill Ontario home, showing oil staining and scratch marks at the chimney-wall junction where it meets the aluminum soffit and fascia. — Close-up of an active big brown bat entry point . The visible oil staining and scratch marks show where bats and mice were passing through the inside corner where the chimney wall meets the aluminum soffit and fascia.

Omemee Bat Control FAQ

Do bats get into homes in Omemee, Ontario?

Yes. Homes in Omemee and the Kawartha Lakes area can have bat problems, especially when there are gaps around soffits, chimneys, vents, fascia, siding, and roofline details. The tow bat species that get into Kawartha lake houses are big brown and little brown bats.

Little brown bat inside a clear container during humane handling. — A little brown bat inside a clear container during humane capture and handling. Little brown bats are a common species involved in residential bat problems in parts of Ontario, especially near water and rural areas.

Bat-proofing crew standing in front of an organized Sprinter work van with ladders, caulking guns, tools, and bat-proofing equipment. — Excluded big brown bats hanging outside the old entry point

Why were bats showing up inside this house?

The home had multiple exterior openings, including chimney gaps, failing soffits, loose siding, vent openings, and poorly installed soffit details. Small numbers of bats were able to enter the structure and eventually show up inside.

Was there a large colony in the attic?

No. There were no signs of a major maternity colony or heavy droppings. The problem appeared to involve small numbers of bats using multiple exterior openings.

Why did the chimneys need so much work?

One chimney was pulling away from the house, leaving large gaps with staining and animal movement evidence. Those openings had to be sealed and fitted with a metal excluder. The tops of the other chimneys were built wrong with no expansion joint between the clay tiles and the concrete caps and mortar. Show tiles will alway fail after time and create openings bats can use. None of the chimneys were bat-proof and the base flashings were not tight or caulked properly.

Why did you use a metal bat excluder?

Because there was heavy mouse activity around the same openings. A plastic excluder could be chewed or damaged. A metal excluder was the better choice.

Broken cheap plastic bat excluder installed on a roof showing why poor bat removal devices fail — Cheap plastic bat excluders can break, collapse, or fail before the bat problem is solved. A proper bat exclusion device must be durable, weather-resistant, and installed as part of complete bat-proofing.

Do you only seal the active bat hole?

No. Proper bat control requires sealing secondary and potential entry points first, then placing excluders only on the final active exits.

Can poor soffit installation cause bat problems?

Yes. Loose soffits, poorly installed J-channel, open fascia gaps, and bad shingle overlaps can all create access points for bats and mice.

Did the bat-proofing work?

Yes. After the roofline repairs, vent screening, chimney sealing, custom flashing, and excluder work were completed, the bats left and stopped showing up inside.

Bat Control in Omemee and the Kawartha Lakes Area

This Omemee case study shows the kind of bat problems that can happen in older or poorly sealed homes across the Kawartha Lakes region. Homes around Omemee, Lindsay, Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Peterborough-area communities, rural properties, waterfront houses, and older village homes can all have hidden roofline openings that bats use.

In this region, bat problems may involve small numbers of big brown bats, seasonal bat activity, or little brown bat activity near lakes, rivers, wooded areas, and older cottage-country structures. The only reliable fix is complete exterior bat-proofing.

Illustrated regional map of the Kawarthas showing big brown bat activity concentrated in towns and cities, and little brown bat activity concentrated in rural areas, lakes, rivers, and stream corridors. — This Kawarthas bat activity map shows the general pattern of big brown bat activity in towns and cities, and little brown bat activity in more rural areas and along lakes, rivers, and streams. It also notes the impact of white-nose syndrome on little brown bats and their recent rebound.

Need Bat Control in Omemee or Kawartha Lakes?

Bats showing up inside your home usually means they are already using the structure somewhere. The opening may not be obvious, and it may not be just one hole.

Bat Control Specialists provides complete bat-proofing for homes in Omemee and the surrounding Kawartha Lakes region, including soffits, chimneys, vents, fascia, siding, roofline gaps, and hidden entry points.

Get Omemee Bat Control Help

Fast, humane, guaranteed bat removal. Serving Omemee and the surrounding area